Age no barrier, only performance matters: Selectors lauded for picking Saransh and Nabi

The Indian selectors, by picking up Saransh Jain for the tour to Sri Lanka, have made it clear that age is no barrier for selection and what they are looking for is consistent performance, even at the domestic level.

The Shubman Gill-led Indian team will play a two-Test series and a tour game before the Test matches. On board the Indian flight are off-spinner Saransh Jain and swing bowler Auqib Nabi. The Jammu & Kashmir pacer was originally not in the 15-member side but was named as replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah.

https://x.com/AnkanKar/status/2084499436907200541?s=20

The selectors, by picking these two consistent red-ball performers in Ranji and Duleep tournaments, showed that domestic performances are being keenly watched. The selectors have come in praise for assuring cricketers that they give importance to all tournaments, be it in white or red ball.

At 33, Saransh Jain’s selection is indeed heartwarming as this Madhya Pradesh player is a classical off spinner

At 33, Jain’s selection is indeed heartwarming as this Madhya Pradesh player is a classical off spinner. Being spotted and encouraged by shrewd coach Chandrakant Pandit, Jain has been under the National selectors’ radar. He was the principal wicket-taker for MP and in the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka tour he caught the selectors’ eye with his subtle variation.

With the wickets to be slow turners in Sri Lanka, the selectors thought, in the absence of the injured Washington Sundar, Jain was the right choice for the two-Tests. The hosts also have a good number of left-handers and Jain could be the surprise weapon for India.

Age is being used as a criterion for blatant discrimination in Indian cricket team

Veteran India leg-spinner VV Kumar was all excited that a classical off-spinner like Jain has been selected for the Lankan tour.

Ramnarayan lauds selectors

Former wily Hyderabad off-spinner V Ramnarayan, who has now settled down in Chennai, complimented the selectors. “Saransh is 33 years old. So, what? Performances need to be counted not the age factor. Even left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi was selected at 32 years and he performed. He ended up with over 100 Test wickets. Saransh has got recognition for his performances in domestic cricket. He is also a good bat. But that he flights and deceives the batter excites me,” said the lanky cricketer, who ever got a Test call despite being a consistent wicket-taker for Hyderabad in 70s and the 80s.

A prolific writer and a good observer of the game, Ram, as he is popularly known, said that present day off spinners are not flighting the ball. “It is simple, you should know how to flight the ball. It is a science or art. A few spinners have not learnt this art. It is not throwing the ball up in the air. It needs a lot of hard work, focus and passion to become a genuine off spinner. Being from an old school of thought, we had great off-spinners Ghulam Ahmed, Erapalli Prasanna among others who flummoxed the batters. They wanted a batter to come at them and the next ball they tricked them with subtle variation in their line and length,” he said.

Ramnarayan V said it was sad that off spinners were in the decline in the country

“Somehow there is a wrong notion that the captain brings in an off spinner when a left-hand batter is on strike. It is stupid. An off spinner can be dangerous to right handers by bowling on and around off and middle stumps. I always bowled over the wicket to a right hander. I was fortunate to have a captain in late (ML) Jaisimha who told me about the importance of bowling the round the wicket also. Of the many things I learnt from this legend was how to deceive the batter with the change of angle and pace.

“An off spinner can get the right hander of the sweep because of the angle he creates while bowling around the wicket. Even for a left-hander, an off-spinner bowls around to a left-hander by pitching middle and off stump. It is all about certain angles, change of pace. A bowler has to change the pace according to the wicket conditions,” he said.

Ramnarayan V

“I remember when I took seven wickets against Bombay (Mumbai) at Brabourne Stadium, Abid (Ali) bhai came running and said to bowl a little quicker in the air because of the wicket conditions. Sometimes these tips or suggestions are very important. The players should observe the behavior of the wicket and can pass the useful information to the bowlers. I was immensely helped by Abid bhai in that match,” said the 78-year-old veteran.

Off spinners are on the decline, says Ram

Ram said it is sad that off-spinners are on the decline, particularly in white-ball cricket. “It needs good guidance. It is sad to more and more left-arm spinners and leg spinners are in the fray.”

Going down memory lane, he said he was always fascinated by Ghulam Ahmed’s off spin that had sharp turns. “He could rip the ball with his round-arm action. Noshir (Mehta) had beautiful variations and had a good straighter one. I really enjoyed Kanwaljit Singh, who often deceived the batters with flight and turn. He was a large-hearted bowler and was never afraid to flight the ball. Whenever Ghulam, Pras or Kanwal flighted the ball, there was a buzzing sound. Shivlal (Yadav) had a lovely action and was a good spinner of the ball. I feel if Saransh works hard and sticks to his basics, he can be successful in international cricket, though he came late to the scene. I will be watching him eagerly in this tour,” Ram said.

Best thing to happen says Harimohan

There has been a hue and cry whenever Nabi’s selection was overlooked in the recent past. This Jammu & Kashmir pace bowler took 103 wickets in the last two seasons and this season he captured 60 wickets in 10 matches and led J & K to their first Ranji Trophy triumph. It was nothing but a spectacular performance and he was bound to make it to the Indian team.

Auqib Nabi has been a consistent bowler for J&K and this Baramulla Express has the skills to move the ball around, says P Harimohan. Pics: BCCI

Former chairman of Hyderabad selection committee Paruvu Harimohan said the selection of Jain and the 29-year-old Nabi is the best thing to happen to cricket. “At least, the young cricketers will have that energy and enthusiasm to play in first class cricket. Otherwise, these young cricketers were led to false impression only a performance in IPL will be noticed by the selectors. By this, with one stroke all these notions will vanish. Hard work and consistent players will be rewarded. Jain and Nabi can be the best examples,” said Harimohan, who was himself a pace bowler in the 80s and 90s.

Hari lauds Nabi’s hardwork

Hari said taking 60 wickets that too on Indian pitches, which often helps the batters, is no joke. “He has been a consistent bowler for J&K and this Baramulla Express has the skills to move the ball around. He showed that on an unhelpful wicket too, he had the skills to dismiss a batter. He may not be express fast, but he is a thinking bowler. He outwits the batter with his outswing or the inswing. On green and helpful wickets, he can be handful which he showed in the last two seasons. I saw him taking those many wickets against Hyderabad at Srinagar. Kudos to the J&K Association, who have come out of a process and hard work. They have beaten big teams like Mumbai, Bengal and others. This season they went on to win their maiden Ranji Trophy. They have set a benchmark and they have been rewarded. Nabi became their standout performer,” he said.

P Harimohan (extreme right) watching a Hyderabad Ranji match with fellow selectors Riazuddin and Jyothi Shetty in the 2025-26 season

Harimohan, who is also a writer, said small teams have been making big impact in domestic cricket. “This is a good sign for Indian cricket. For instance, Nabi came from a place where there were few facilities, but he came through the system. Today he is in the Indian team. He is a learner and nippy of the wicket. I’m sure this big breakthrough could open the gate for a great future in red ball cricket. He should stick to the basics, that is what he has been doing in the last few years. Surely, this hard-working Nabi looks to stay in the Indian team.’’